Maren Morris Skips CMA Awards Red Carpet, Stages Her Own Photoshoot Set To Taylor Swift’s ‘Karma’
Instead of hitting the red carpet outside of Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena for the 2022 CMA Awards, country star Maren Morris…
Maren Morris; Photos via Instagram
Instead of hitting the red carpet outside of Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena for the 2022 CMA Awards, country star Maren Morris decided to host her own pre-show photoshoot with her husband, Ryan Hurd.
She took to social media to share a series of photos that showed her dressed to the nines in her elegant black sequin ballgown with an open back and low-cut neckline. Morris and her husband Ryan Hurd posed together in front of a charcoal-colored curtain backdrop as they prepared to attend the 56th Annual CMA Awards on Nov. 9 in honor of her nomination for Album of the Year for Humble Quest. In addition to her stunning photos, it was Morris’ caption that sparked an interest in the comment section.
“Good Mourning. 🖤,” the country star wrote.
Hurd also posted a few moments from their intimate celebration, adding his pride for the role he played in the creation of this project.
His caption read, “I loved being a part of Humble Quest. Grateful to celebrate its nomination this year and always @marenmorris@gregkurstin. Love to each and every one of you.”
In addition to the photos, the “Circles Around This Town” singer posted several videos to TikTok and Instagram using Taylor Swift’s song, “Karma” as the soundtrack, leaving fans to speculate on her music choice.
“Aren’t you envious that for you it’s not? 🖤” she wrote quoting the popular revenge track.
Morris previously shared that she was unsure if she would be attending this year’s awards after a public feud broke out between her and Jason Aldean’s wife, Brittany Aldean, who made a transphobic comment on Instagram in response to the Florida Department of Health’s new guidance that advises against any form of gender-affirming care for transgender kids.
During a previous interview with the Los Angeles Times, Morris explained that she tends to feel uncomfortable at these industry events in general and with the added tension in the air, it might not be in the cards for her this year.
“Honestly, I haven’t decided if I’m gonna go,” Morris said. “I’m very honored that my record is nominated. But I don’t know if I feel [at] home there right now. So many people I love will be in that room, and maybe I’ll make a game-time decision and go. But as of right now, I don’t feel comfortable going.”
She added, “I think I was more sad going last year. Some nights are fun. Others I’m just crawling out of my skin. I’m not good at those events because I’m awkward. But this time I kind of feel peaceful at the notion of not going.”
While Morris and Hurd did end up making an appearance in the audience, they also choose to refrain from taking part in the busy red carpet scene. Aldean and Brittany were in attendance as he vied for the award for Musical Event of the Year.
The country singer received her CMA nomination just a few weeks after the back-and-forth comments began between her and Aldean’s wife.
“I am so honored that Humble Quest was nominated for Album of the Year at the @cma,” Morris said in her caption. “It’s one of my most precious works because it stripped away a lot of flash & rebelliousness I was hiding behind and revealed my true self: a vulnerable AF little girl who needed to grieve my losses, celebrate my wins, grow up and face the music… for my son, for my family, for myself. Oh, and some steel guitar never hurt anybody. Thank you, @gregkurstin and my co-writers for narrating this ride with me, and thank you Country Music.🤍”
On August 24, Brittany shared a clip of herself putting on makeup with her 2.2 million followers on Instagram. The XO Britt Aldean owner posted the clip, which was soundtracked to Beyoncé’s 2006 hit “Upgrade U,” with a caption that read, “I’d really like to thank my parents for not changing my gender when I went through my tomboy phase. I love this girly life.”
As a longtime supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, Morris was quick to weigh in on the post, sharing her shock and disappointment in the transphobic comment, along with other country stars like Cassadee Pope, Lindsay Ell and more, who also took to social media to give their opinions on the matter.
Brittany later appeared on Tucker Carlson’s Fox News to discuss the internet feud, which in turn, prompted Carlson to label Morris a “Lunatic Country Music Person.”
In an effort to fight back and stand her frown in her own way, Morris turned the phrase into a charitable act. She put the phrase, “Lunatic Country Music Person” along with the Trans Lifeline on t-shirts and through sales, was able to raise more than $150,000 for the Trans Lifeline and GLAAD’s Transgender Media Program.
Maren Morris is currently in the midst of her Humble Quest headlining tour, which kicked off on June 9 in Raileigh, NC and will conclude on Dec. 2 in Nashville, TN.
Madeleine O’Connell graduated from North Central College with a bachelors degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications before deciding to pursue her studies further at DePaul University. There, she earned her masters degree in Digital Communication & Media Arts. O’Connell served as a freelance writer for over two years while also interning with the Academy of Country Music, SiriusXM and Circle Media and assisting with Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast. In addition to Country Now, she has been published in American Songwriter, Music Mayhem, and Holler.Country. Madeleine O’Connell is a member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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